O i b iHuman Development Report 2009

Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and developmenty p

Isabel Medalho PereiraHDRO‐UNDPUpwardly Global Panel DiscussionUpwardly Global Panel DiscussionNew York 20 April 2010

HDR09: Overcoming Barriers

• Focus on people and broader dimensions of well‐being – brings important insights to the topic of migration.

covers movement across and behind borders, process and outcomes 

Broad reach: between October‐

end November 2009end November 2009, 

• over 3 million views, with 

visitors from 223 countries 

and territories;

• over 150,000 downloads of HDR in full or part .

1

Key Messages

1. Migration can have human development gains for migrants and their families, but also origin andmigrants and their families, but also origin and destination communities.

2 But unequal opportunities and barriers reduce2. But unequal opportunities and barriers reduce potential gains and reveal a major policy agenda.

3 Core package of policy reforms and initiatives –3. Core package of policy reforms and initiatives –ambitious but politically feasible – can help expand the potential gains for human development.

2

Key Messages

1. Migration can have human development gains for migrants and their families, but also origin andmigrants and their families, but also origin and destination communities.

2 But unequal opportunities and barriers reduce2. But unequal opportunities and barriers reduce potential gains and reveal a major policy agenda.

3 Core package of policy reforms and initiatives –3. Core package of policy reforms and initiatives –ambitious but politically feasible – can help expand the potential gains for human development.

2

Some Clarifications…

• Most movement in the world does not from developing to developed countries, nor even between countries… most movement within borders of countries (internal migration)

♦ Of the nearly 1 billion movers in the world,740 million are internal migrants.

♦ US i 2005♦ US in 2005:~ 302.7 million people~39 million international immigrants~ 44 million internal migrants (lifetime, last census)

3

Some Clarifications…

• Most movement within borders of countries (internal migration)

• Internationally, the share of world’s population  moving almost stable since 1960… butgdirection of movements has changed

3

Some Clarifications…

• Most movement within borders of countries (internal migration)

• Internationally, the share of world’s population  moving almost stable since 1960… butgdirection of movements has changed

• International migration to US:International migration to US:Immigrant and non-immigrant visas issued at Foreign Service Posts 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009immigrant categories (permanent residents) 402,247 449,103 434,409 470,098 468,770) 402,247 449,103 434,409 470,098 468,770

non-immigrant categories (temporary residents, short term visits) 5,388,937 5,836,730 6,444,285 6,603,073 5,804,182temporary workers with special occupation (H1B) 124,099 135,421 154,053 129,464 110,367intra-company transferees (L1) 65,458 72,613 84,532 84,078 64,696exchange visitors (J1) 275,161 309,951 343,946 359,447 313,597total 5,791,184 6,285,833 6,878,694 7,073,171 6,272,952Source: US Dpt State 3

At destination,positive aggregate effectspositive aggregate effects

• Most studies find positive aggregate gains forMost studies find positive aggregate gains for destination countries 

♦ Commissioned analysis of flows from 50+ developing countries♦ Commissioned analysis of flows from 50  developing countries into 14 OECD countries found that investment and output rises proportionately.

♦ Innovation impacts:        US, between 1950‐2000,a 1.3% increase in share of migrant university graduates increase 15% nr patents issued per capita→ talent competition.15% nr patents issued per capita → talent competition. 

4

At destination,positive aggregate effectspositive aggregate effects

• Most studies find positive aggregate gains forMost studies find positive aggregate gains for destination countries 

♦ Commissioned analysis of flows from 50+ developing countries♦ Commissioned analysis of flows from 50  developing countries into 14 OECD countries found that investment and output rises proportionately.

♦ Innovation impacts:        US, between 1950‐2000,a 1.3% increase in share of migrant university graduates increase 15% nr patents issued per capita→ talent competition.15% nr patents issued per capita → talent competition. 

PhDs in Economics granted by US universities

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006by US universities

Total (number) 903 932 960 1061 1029

Non‐US citizens (%) 56.2 62.4 61.5 67.6 65.64

At destination,positive aggregate effectspositive aggregate effects

• Most studies find positive aggregate gains forMost studies find positive aggregate gains for destination countries

• Migrants’ complementary skills increase labourfforce participation

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Migration is a complement of development not a substitute !development… not a substitute !Long term agenda ‐> core core package package of suggestions:

♦ Liberalize and simplify regular channels, conditional on labour market conditions

→→ employment portability and circularity

♦ Ensure basic rights for migrants

→→ equal remuneration and conditions for equal work

♦ Reduce transaction costs associated with migration

→ information, reduce cost and ease access of certificates,prevent abuses and fraud

♦ I t i d ti ti iti♦ Improve outcomes in destination communities♦ Enable benefits from internal migration♦ Make mobility an integral part of HD strategies 5

Th k !Thank you !

http://hdr.undp.org/en/

Isabel.pereira@undp.org